Third Front is unviable 'tired front', says Mamata

New Delhi: Terming the recently-formed Third Front as an unviable ‘tired front’, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed confidence that a different kind of Federal Front will rule the country after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Trinamool Congress supremo is also keeping open the option of whether she is a contender for the prime minister’s position, saying that ‘people will decide’.

She ruled out any alliance with Congress or BJP and hoped that people would ‘reward’ her party ‘abundantly’ in the polls.

"No matter, any force with the Communists in it is not viable because the people have rejected the CPI-M. So, it is not Third Front, it is Tired Front," she said.

Mamata was responding when she was asked on how she sees coming together recently of 11 parties to form the Third Front which includes Left parties, Samajwadi Party, JD (U) and JD (S).

On being asked whether she felt left out as she was not included in the 'Third Front', Mamata replied, "Nothing like that."

She insisted that "any Front of significance (including Trinamool) will only come together after the results are announced. We are hopeful that a Federal Front government will lead this nation."

On being questioned as how this is possible and who could be her allies after elections, she remained vague.

"Making empty noise now is one thing. It is not important. What is important is to come to Delhi in May with many dozens of Lok Sabha seats. The Federal Front will take shape with this model, on the plank of common policies," Mamata said.

On whether she will be a candidate for the position of prime minister in case a 'Federal Front' is formed, the Trinamool chief said, "Throughout my three decades of struggle, people have always been my motivation and inspiration, not 'kursis' (chair)."

At the same time, the former union minister dropped enough hints about her ambition.

"I have experience of working at the Centre, I have also experience of working in a state. In a democracy, people will decide," the TMC chief said.

Commenting on the current political scene, Mamata contended, "Congress is not the alternative to BJP and BJP is not the alternative to Congress."

Hitting out at Congress with which she had an alliance till about two years ago, she said, "People are tired of corruption. People are tired of dynasty."

She also targeted BJP, saying, "People are tired of parties that encourage riots."

Maintaining that people of the country want development, peace and progress for the nation and for the states to happen hand in hand, the West Bengal Chief Minister said she has been focussing on these issues only.

"Our focus has been on developing Bengal so that the people will reward us abundantly in the Lok Sabha elections," she said.

"As you know, we are the principal Opposition party in Manipur and also have our MLAs in Assam, Arunachal and UP. We have already announced that we are putting up candidates in Delhi, Jharkhand and some other states," Mamata added.

On being asked whether there is a possibility of Trinamool Congress allying with BJP, she replied, "Let me make it very clear. We are fighting these elections against the Left, the Congress and the BJP."

Whether she could again have alliance with Congress with which her party split on a bitter note, Mamata reflected her contempt for that party.

"The Congress will get just between 60 and 70 (Lok Sabha) seats. The country is fed up with their anti-people policies. So where is the question of forgiving and forgetting? Because we are always with the people," she claimed.

On BJP's poll prospects, she projected that the party would get close to 150-160 seats.